The Shop

The Shop is located at the South Novato Library and is part of the Marin County Free Library system. It is a place for working and learning. We have a variety of materials and tools for people to learn and practice with, from sewing, to painting, to woodworking. During our drop in hours you can get an intro to many forms of crafts. You are also welcome to use the space to work on your own projects. We work with many schools and youth groups to provide interactive lessons to support curriculum and learning goals on top of creating a community hub for the general public to enjoy.

We are not a tool lending library. Given our current staff and stock, that is unfortunately not a request we can fulfill. No tools may ever leave the shop, but you are welcome to use them while you're here.

The Shop used to be named the Marin Makerspace. Our name change came with an identity change as well. While surveying the community for the redesign we learned many new things we wanted to do for this space in order to best serve the public. We will continue to take your feedback into account as we develop our identity.

While we do have activities for all ages at The Shop, it is typically most suitable for children over age 11. That tends to be the age where almost all activities become a possibility. We also have plenty of great opportunities for teens, adults, and seniors. Anyone is welcome, but small children and toddlers may not always find the environment enjoyable. As always, anyone under the age of 8 needs a parent or guardian with them.

Training is only required for our power tools and can take anywhere between 15-30 minutes.

Our tools and your creativity are the only limitations to what you can do in the workshop. Many people use it as an opportunity to learn new things and become familiar with tools and crafts like painting and using a saw. Some already have experience and use the space to work on projects of their own like hemming clothes or making wooden accessories.

Between all our staff we have a well rounded set of skills and would enjoy teaching you something new to the best of our abilities. With that being said we may not always have the time or ability to teach you how to do a new skill.

Yes, we have a storage space for projects that you will need to return to finish. We are not responsible for your items being damaged in any way when stored. Items can only be stored for up to 1 week, unless cleared by workshop staff.

We do not have a 3D printer. While it is a popular request, given the other time commitment related tools/appliances we already have, we won’t be offering 3D printing related activities. If you are interested in 3D printing, we strongly encourage you to visit our friends at the Marin City Library.

Unfortunately, we have retired our laser cutter and will not be purchasing a new one. If you are interested in using one, our friends at Marin City Library’s the Lab would enjoy assisting you with your project.

The last portion of the day is our level 3 programming. During this time all power tools are available including the planer/jointer. You are welcome to call in advance to see if it is not currently being used.

We have a limited stock of materials in the shop with wood, fabric, and art supplies. People visiting for the first time are encouraged to use our materials to start learning, but in the future may need to supply their own projects. Given that this is a public workshop, we encourage donations to support our stock. If you are working on a larger project of any kind, we will ask you to supply your own materials, but the tools and space will still be available for you. If staff finds you constantly wasting materials of any kind, you will not be allowed to use materials.

We do accept donations, both objects and monetary. We are regularly looking for stock specifically. Wood, fabrics, and painting mediums are always a big bonus. We are not interested in any broken or rusted items.

We do not host classes. This is a drop in space for people to be creative and spontaneous. If we have the time and ability, we are happy to help you.

We do not host a summer camp. Children above the age of 8 are welcome to visit us without parents during our drop in hours during the summer, but we do not provide child care.

Aside from The Shop coordinator, all our staff are high school interns from the Marin County Webstar Program. We hire every year during the school year. You are welcome to apply when the opportunity comes up.  

We welcome all schools and community groups. Check back here soon for our tailored programming to see how we can assist your learning goals best, or contact us by email at SNO@marincounty.gov.

We do not enforce a formal dress code. For safety reasons though, we do recommend visitors wear closed toed shoes. We also recommend wearing clothes you are okay with getting a little dirty. We have aprons, safety glasses, and gloves for people to use depending on what they are working on.

Our staff do not do any commissions. We encourage all users to create on their own, but our staff is more than happy to assist you on your project and help bring it to life.

Occasionally on Saturdays, The Shop will host special events. Many of them are family-friendly and holiday-oriented and will always be posted to the website well before the event.  

If you signed a waiver recently before the Level 3 concept, your waiver still covers your use of the tools. However, all waivers still expire after 1 year.